Tampa Bay Lightning (52-13-4 108pts) v. Toronto Maple Leafs (42-21-5 89pts)
Time: 7p EST
Station: SportsNet
Preview:
Maple Leafs look to stay hot against the top team in the league the Tampa Bay Lightning. Expect a goaltenders duel with the Leafs Frederik Andersen and the Lightning Andrei Vasilevskiy getting the starts in net – two of the top goalies in the league.
Top Scorers/Goalie Matchup
Mitch Marner –82 points (24 goals 58 assists)
John Tavares – 76 points (38 goals 38 assists) 54% on face-offs
Morgan Rielly – 65 points (18 goals 47 assists)
Auston Matthews – 60 points (30 goals 30 assists) 53% on Face-offs
Nikita Kucherov – 110 points (33 goals 77 assists)
Brayden Point –82 points (37 goals 45 assists)
Steven Stamkos – 79 points (34 goals 45 assists)
Victor Hedman –43 points (9 goals 34 assists)
Frederik Andersen
33-13-3 2.56GAA .924SV%
Andrei Vasilevskiy
31-8-4 2.24GAA .931SV%
Toronto Maple Leafs:
Projected Lineup:
Andreas Johnsson – Auston Matthews – Kasperi Kapanen
Mitch Marner – John Tavares – Zach Hyman
Patrick Marleau – Nazem Kadri – William Nylander
Tyler Ennis – Frederik Gauthier – Connor Brown
Morgan Rielly – Ron Hainsey
Jake Muzzin – Nikita Zaitsev
Martin Marincin – Igor Ohziganov
Frederik Andersen
Garrett Sparks
Scratched: Justin Holl
Injuries: Nathan Horton (Back), Jake Gardiner (Back) and Travis Dermott (Shoulder)
Suspension: None
Tampa:
Ondrej Palat – Steven Stamkos – JT Miller
Tyler Johnson – Brayden Point –Nikita Kucherov
Alex Killorn – Anthony Cirelli – Mathieu Joseph
Yanni Gourde – Cedric Paquette – Ryan Callahan
Victor Hedman – Mikhail Sergachev
Ryan McDonaugh – Erik Cernak
Brayden Coburn – Jan Rutta
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Louis Domingue
Scratched: None
Injuries: None
Suspension: None
Keys to the Game:
1. Dictate the pace of the game
- The Lightning are good and will get their chances. But they must be limited if the Leafs are able to dictate the pace of the game it may help slow them down.
2. Win the faceoffs and control the puck
- Leafs need their centerman to be at their best game in the circle. This will allow the Leafs to keep control of the puck.
3. Freddy Andersen
- Has to be at the top of his game for the Leafs to win
